FogNet is a research program that was developed to determine whether fog water harvesting has the potential to provide the coastal community with a viable and reliant water source. The initial research revealed that Pacifica, CA is a productive fog harvesting region (Figure 1). The program fostered a regional partner with the North Coast County Water District (NCCWD). The partnership between FogNet and NCCWD developed out of a mutual need to increase fog water harvesting. A few goals of FogNet are to obtain more data on locations, collectors, as well as techniques. A goal NCCWD has is to look for ways their customers can save water.
Path to development
The team proposed the Fog Collector Adoption Program to North Coast County Water District through email and in person meetings. When the program secured funding through the UC Climate Action Initiatives Grant, the team was able to purchase materials necessary to build the fog collectors. FogNet also participated in UCSC Giving Day, an annual university-wide fundraiser, in which we received $1,670 from 16 donors! Once NCCWD gave the team a list of participants for the adopt a fog collector program, UCSC required the participants to sign the “UC Santa Cruz Access Agreement”. This process is ongoing with an expected completion date of 3/15/25.
FogNet’s budget allowed for the employment of two undergraduate students to take the lead on Marketing, Media, and Technology aspects of the program. Chloe Barnard and Naomi Prince, undergraduates at UCSC, have taken the lead on creating social media accounts and a website for the project, as well as specializing in quality checks for the fog collectors during the building process. The engineering interns have been heavily involved in the building and construction process for the fog collectors.
“Working with FogNet and the city of Pacifica has been such a rewarding experience because we are witnessing new technological innovation. From its first steps to a point where fog harvesting could help California through droughts, this project could really make an impact.”
– Naomi Prince, Undergraduate Student
Regional collaboration & community engagement
North Coast County Water District was the program’s initial community partner for the fog collector adoption program in Pacifica, CA. NCCWD put the team in touch with their customers who expressed interest in hosting and maintaining a fog collector. The team is currently hand building and delivering twelve fog collectors to various individuals, schools, and community garden spaces in Pacifica, CA. The recipients will be providing the program with data on the collector’s performance for the next two years. Thanks to the approval and help from North Coast County Water District, the team found participants that are willing and able to aid in research. As the project progresses, the team will interact less with the NCCWD and more with the private individuals and other organizations that are hosting the fog collectors.
FogNet is getting the community engaged in fog water harvesting which has never been done before. The data tells us that the region should yield meaningful quantities of water from fog and the program participants will be able to capture it and use in their gardens. With participant surveys the program will we know how successful the fog catchers are at improving backyard food growing.
“Pacifica residents know fog and some have expressed interest in harvesting it for their gardens. We support Dr. Weiss’ efforts to bring fog water harvesting to our community.”
Adrianne Carr, North Coast County Water District Director
Future direction
FogNet will deliver the fog collectors to community partners and compile their observations. The team is asking for the user input to be uploaded to the program website monthly. Once the program has done this large field trial for these devices, FogNet will sell them through an LLC that is being formed. Information on purchasing a fog catcher will be found on the Fog Catcher Solutions website.
“Harvesting fog and putting that water into the soil, improves soil health, sustains summer gardens, and builds resilience against climate change.”
– Peter Weiss, Researcher
For further reading
Visit our website. This work was also recently written up in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Questions? Contact Professor Peter Weiss.
Support team
- Dr. Peter Weiss, UCSC Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Department
- Jennifer Parker, UCSC Art Department, OpenLabs Studios
- Slugworks of Baskin Engineering
- UCSC Leonardo Commuter Lounge
- Nicolas Kouatli of Baskin Engineering
- Marketing, Media, and Technology specialists and undergraduates: Chloe Barnard, Naomi Prince
- Engineering interns: Nina Subedi, Aarushi Kumar, Cameron Nelson